Registration will be open from 2-5pm, giving you plenty of time to check in and get settled before the event kicks off. Stop by the registration desk to pick up your materials, meet the team, and get ready for an exciting few days ahead! Included in your registration is Tuesday – Thursday breakfast. Tuesday and Wednesday: lunch and ending the day –  a reception before you head out to discover the evening charm of Savannah. Did someone say “Ghost Tour?”

Join us for a fun and relaxed Welcome Reception, where you can mingle with fellow attendees while enjoying a selection of delicious appetizers and refreshing adult beverages. It’s the perfect opportunity to kick off the event, make new connections, and set the tone for an exciting experience ahead!

Speaker: Franci Edgerly
Founder and CEO at ITI Digital

Techsummit.travel 2024, presented by ITI Digital! This year, our focus is on leadership, innovation, and community. Drawing inspiration from “The First Follower Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy,” we emphasize that true leadership isn’t just about being first—it’s about those who are brave enough to follow and act.

We’ll explore cutting-edge travel marketing technology, real-time content platforms, and AI-driven tools. You’ll hear from industry leaders, participate in interactive workshops, and leave with actionable insights to take your digital strategies to the next level. Thank you for being part of this transformative journey!

Facilitator: Monica Hall
Sales Director at ITI Digital

The daily 30-minute networking activity offers a quick yet impactful chance to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations. Use this time to gain fresh perspectives, share insights, and build valuable relationships that can enhance your travel marketing strategies.

Speaker: Andrew Davis,
Bestselling Author

Andrew Davis is a renowned marketing visionary, bestselling author, and keynote speaker who has inspired businesses worldwide with his dynamic approach to storytelling and brand growth. With a unique ability to connect big ideas to real-world strategies, Andrew empowers leaders to think differently, embrace innovation, and drive impactful results.

In this session, Triumphs, Anomalies & Myths, Andrew will challenge us to think how daring destinations use simple stories to attract visitors from around the world. We’re good at marketing the attractions, virtues, and values of the region we promote. We create compelling imagery, poetic prose and produce impressive videos all designed to inspire others to visit. But what story are we telling?

Speaker: Franci Edgerly
Founder and CEO at ITI Digital

An overview of ITI Digital’s SaaS platform showcasing how our DXP and tools bring real-time content, AI insights, and seamless integrations to your website. Whether you’re fully engaged or just starting, Franci will highlight how our technology transforms digital strategies and drives growth across the industry. Let’s set the stage for the future of travel marketing!

Speaker: Aline Gill
Vice President, Digital Strategy at ITI Digital

In this session, we explore the powerful functionalities of ITI Digital’s DXP and reveal how it transforms content management and user engagement. Discover how our DXP goes beyond a traditional CMS, integrating real-time data and dynamic content to elevate the user experience and streamline operations for DMOs. Prepare to unlock the full potential of your digital strategy!  

Speaker: Andrew Davis,
Bestselling Author

In this exhilarating 45-minute session, Andrew Davis (and his Digital Doppelgänger) will show you how to build your AI-powered creative collaborators. He’ll show you the four-step iterative process one savvy marketer uses to augment their unique writing style, saving 39 valuable working hours. You’ll even witness AI’s power to destroy trust and learn the only way to avoid it. Most importantly, Andrew will demonstrate why AI can make YOU more valuable than ever.

Speakers:
Aline Gill, Vice President, Digital Strategy at ITI Digital 
Randy Gong, Lead Software Engineer at ITI Digital

Get ready for the next evolution in digital content strategy as we unveil the latest ITI Digital DXP software enhancements and new releases. Discover groundbreaking features designed to transform how destinations manage content, engage visitors, and plan for the future of travel. Whether streamlining real-time updates or offering more dynamic user experiences, this session will showcase innovations that keep your digital strategy ahead of the curve.

Speakers:
Aline GIll, Vice President, Digital Strategy at ITI Digital
Franci Edgerly, Founder and CEO at ITI Digital

We will review the key differences between Customer Success and Customer Support, exploring how each plays a critical role in helping clients maximize their investment in ITI Digital’s solutions. Learn how proactive success strategies and responsive support work hand-in-hand to drive client satisfaction, long-term growth, and seamless implementation of our technology.

Panel Discussion

In this peer-to-peer discussion, industry leaders share real success stories of leveraging ITI Digital’s modules to overcome challenges, navigate community and political landscapes, and drive significant results for their destinations. Learn firsthand how these DMOs turned obstacles into opportunities and achieved big wins through innovative digital strategies.

Facilitators:
Mitchell Knox, Sales Account Executive at ITI Digital
Kathleen Gorrondona, Lead Sales Development Representative at ITI Digital

In this session, we’ll recap the highlights from today’s discussions and presentations, summarizing the most important insights from each session. From dynamic content strategies to successful case studies and best practices, we’ll distill the key takeaways that you can apply to your digital strategies moving forward. Join us for a concise wrap-up to ensure you’re ready to make the most of what you’ve learned today.

Dinner on your own. Enjoy the beautiful Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside or meet up with our team at different restaurants for appetizers..

Facilitator: Monica Hall
Sales Director at ITI Digital

The daily  30-minute networking activity offers a quick yet impactful chance to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations. Use this time to gain fresh perspectives, share insights, and build valuable relationships that can enhance your travel marketing strategies.

Panel Discussion, featuring:
Tammy Heon, Executive Director at Florida’s Adventure Coast
Jennifer Vigil, President & CEO at Destination Panama City, FL

Moderator:
Monica Hall, Sales Director at ITI Digital

Experiential Adventure Tourism offers travelers immersive, meaningful experiences that connect them with a destination’s natural and cultural richness. In this session, innovative DMOs will share their forward-thinking projects, how technology plays a part in these initiatives, their challenges, and their results. Learn from peers as they explore how small and rural communities can leverage adventure tourism to drive growth and engagement.

Speaker: Debbie Meihls,
President & CEO at the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau

Explore how technology, including features such as suggested itineraries, plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable tourism. ITI Digital’s solutions empower destinations to reduce carbon footprints, preserve cultural heritage, and implement responsible initiatives. Through real-world examples and engaging discussions, attendees will gain valuable insights into leveraging technology to enhance visitor experiences while minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable growth. 

Speaker:
Casey Hough
Regional Advertising Manager at Compass Media

Explore the impact of Google’s latest algorithm updates and AI advancements on SEO strategies for DMOs, emphasizing how Google prioritizes content quality and user experiences. Give your destination a competitive edge in the digital landscape while keeping your website visible, relevant, and impactful. Lastly, learn how ITI Digital’s SEO-optimized content modules, including schema and dynamic sitemaps, aid in the overall website SEO strategy.

Speaker: Monica Hall
Sales Director at ITI Digital

DMOs face mounting challenges: balancing tight budgets, being environmentally conscious, and managing the growing demands of visitors. Traditional visitor guides often drain resources without delivering the expected returns. This session will explore how ITI Digital’s DXP content modules go beyond content delivery and can transform your website into a revenue-generating tool.

Speaker:
Joel Siedenburg
CEO at LOCL

Through ITI Digital’s partnership with Locl, DMOs can offer their business partners access to Directory Sync, which enhances their profiles across 50 top consumer directories, including Google, Apple, Bing, and Siri. This tool ensures consistent, real-time updates, boosting visibility and improving local SEO while seamlessly managing Google Places listings. Empower your business community with this essential tool to elevate their digital presence and drive growth.

Speaker: Monica Hall
Sales Director at ITI Digital

In this roundtable, we’ll explore strategies for convincing your board to invest in innovative technology solutions that drive destination success. Learn how to present the value of tech innovations, from enhancing visitor experiences to boosting revenue, while addressing common concerns about budget and ROI. Share insights with peers on positioning technology as a critical long-term growth and competitiveness tool.

Keynote Speaker:
Jan Meskens
PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Founder at Sievax

This session will explore practical strategies to overcome organizational challenges by aligning people, processes, and data tools. The solution? A comprehensive data strategy. Jan will show how a well-defined strategy can empower teams to become more data-savvy, align objectives, and leverage tools like AI to unlock the full potential of your data.

Facilitators:
Denine Gentilella, Sales Account Executive at ITI Digital
Kathleen Gorrondona, Lead Sales Development Representative at ITI Digital

In this session, we’ll recap the highlights from today’s discussions and presentations, summarizing the most important insights from each session. From dynamic content strategies to successful case studies and best practices, we’ll distill the key takeaways that you can apply to your digital strategies moving forward. Join us for a concise wrap-up to ensure you’re ready to make the most of what you’ve learned today.

Dine on your own
6:45 PM | Meet at the Lobby for Ghost Tour (RSVP needed)
7 – 8:30 PM | Ghost Tour

Speakers:
Monica Hall, Sales Director at ITI Digital
Mitchell Knox, Sales Account Executive at ITI Digital

Tourism today is evolving, with travelers increasingly seeking authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences. This shift has brought rural tourism into the spotlight—a form of travel highlighting lesser-known destinations’ charm, culture, and natural beauty. Rural tourism is about connecting visitors with the heart of a community, its traditions, and its landscapes, offering unique experiences that urban tourism cannot replicate.

However, the success of rural tourism often depends on overcoming specific challenges: limited visibility, competition with larger destinations, and the ability to effectively showcase what makes these places special. This is where website best practices come in. A destination’s website is often the first touchpoint for potential visitors, and its effectiveness can make or break the decision to visit.

In this session, we’ll first explore what rural tourism truly means—its value, opportunities, and challenges—and then transition into actionable website best practices that amplify the appeal of any destination, with a special focus on helping rural areas compete on a global stage. Together, we’ll uncover how these two areas intersect to create a powerful strategy for engaging and inspiring travelers.”

Speaker: Heather Keffer,
Marketing and Communications Manager at Visit Florence, SC

An app offers a powerful platform to reach and engage a different audience by providing a more personalized and interactive experience. Through gamification and exclusive content, destinations can highlight their tourism assets creatively, inspiring exploration and engagement. From interactive challenges to rewards for completing activities, Visit Flo’s Destination App drives deeper connections with travelers, turning exploration into an immersive, enjoyable experience that promotes The Pecan Trails and local businesses in a fresh and exciting way.

Surprise Guest

Hands-on learning experience and closing remarks.